3 Tips to Help You Get to a Healthy Weight

There is no magic number for healthy weight. But, when people are overweight and especially when they get into the obese range, they are at risk for some pretty serious health problems. The good news is that you don’t have to get all the way down to “normal weight” to be healthier.

Start with 5-10%.
Losing just 5-10% of your weight through increased physical activity and healthier eating can lead to huge health benefits. What does this mean? If you currently weigh 250 pounds, losing 5-10% of your weight would mean losing about 13 - 25 pounds. Just this much weight loss can lower your risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some forms of cancer. Plus, you will likely get some results that you can feel – like having more energy, feeling less out of breath, and having fewer aches and pains.

Celebrate your milestones.
Even though a 5-10% body weight loss is good for your health, it may not feel like enough. Maybe you’ve been battling a negative body image and you’re not feeling comfortable in your own skin. Or maybe you’ve been focused on the number on the scale and it’s not quite where you want to be. An important part of staying motivated to lose weight comes from celebrating milestones, whether it’s reaching that first goal of 5% weight loss or noticing how much better you feel and move in your everyday life. Every step you make toward your goal is a step to a healthier you.

Remember slow and steady wins the race.
Trying to lose weight with extreme diets or over-the-top workouts often doesn’t last because you can’t keep it up over the long-term. Remember, the key to losing weight and keeping it off is slow and steady weight loss.